Richardson: Frazer

1999-2009 (Player Details)

Right Back

Born: Rotherham: 29-10-1982

Debut: Hapoel Tel-Aviv (a) (Substitute): 14-11-2002

5’11” 11st 12lb (2007)

Richardson emerged through the Leeds United Academy ranks to become an established England Youth and Under-Twenty international. A right back with an added ability to play right wing or midfield, he was the long-term understudy for Republic of Ireland international Gary Kelly and English international Danny Mills. After Gary Kelly retired he had a chance to make the right back berth his own. However, he was suffering a long term injury, and this stopped him from making the berth his own. At times, such as in the League play-off at Preston North End, he successfully played right-midfield for United as well, and in that particular game scored a vital goal. He made his Leeds debut as a second-half substitute against Hapoel Tel-Aviv in Florence during the 2002/03 UEFA Cup campaign. He was loaned to Stoke City to gain experience and made seven appearances for them in January 2003. He returned to the Potters again on loan in November 2000 and added another six games and also scored a goal. He made his full debut for United against Arsenal at right full-back, a position he was tipped to have on a permanent basis after the retirement of Kelly and the loan and transfer of Mills. Since then, however, Richardson has covered a variety of roles for United. Richardson scored his first ever Leeds goal on his second start for the club, the goal turning out to be the winner against Derby County in Leeds' first game of the 2004/05 campaign and due to the game having an early 12-15pm kick off on Sky Sports, it was actually the first ever goal in the newly rebranded "Coca-Cola Football League Championship". Richardson was then replaced on the right of midfield by newly loaned John Oster. However, an injury to Stephen Crainey meant Richardson was given a chance to establish himself at left full-back. But this spell was short lived after Manager Kevin Blackwell chose to play natural left sided players Danny Pugh or Matthew Kilgallon there. Richardson found he was popular with the fans but Kelly still barred the way in his favourite spot and the Manager chose more suitable players in his alternate positions. Prior to the 2005/06 campaign, Richardson was subject to two bids from Sunderland, both which were rejected immediately by Leeds' chairman, Ken Bates. Several months later, Richardson signed a new contract with Leeds, pledging his future to the club until August 2008. That season, 2005/06, Richardson infrequently played on the right of midfield, competing for his position with Ian Moore, himself preferring to play as a forward, Jonathan Douglas, and David Healy, who preferred to play out of position rather than as a substitute. Richardson scored in the Play-Off Semi-Final away leg win against Preston North End for Leeds in May 2006, playing in an unusual attacking wide right position, though he reverted to a more familiar role for the Play-Off final defeat against Watford a few weeks later. In the 2006/07 season, Richardson hardly featured under Blackwell in the Leeds team at all, due to injuries. Under new manager Dennis Wise, Richardson played more regularly in the Leeds starting lineup, replacing the injured Gary Kelly at right back. On Kelly’s retirement, Richardson was given the number two shirt and finally became the club's first choice right back. Despite rumours of a transfer away from Elland Road to Wolverhampton Wanderers or Burnley, it became apparent that Richardson would be staying at the club, having started all the club's matches in the 2007/08 campaign, until injury ruled him out on 2nd February 2008. He scored a wonder goal at Elland Road in the January thrashing of Northampton Town. Currently the club's longest serving player, being the only player to have remained at the club from the time David O’Leary was in charge. Under new Leeds manager Gary McAllister, Richardson also played in the left-back position, playing a few games there as a replacement for on-loan Leicester defender Alan Sheehan. After a poor performance in this position against Cheltenham, Richardson was booed off the pitch by Leeds fans and didn't play for a few weeks after. He returned in his usual right-back position as a replacement for the injured Darren Kenton in their 1-0 win over promotion rivals, Doncaster Rovers, and played well. With over one hundred appearances to his name in all matches. Richardson was appointed Leeds Captain in August 2008 by Manager Gary McAllister and remained club captain despite injury under new manager Simon Grayson. He made his final appearance for Leeds as a substitute against Northampton Town on 2nd May 2009, when he replaced Ben Parker after sixty-seven minutes. On 16th June 2009, after Leeds had signed Jason Crowe from Northampton Town, it was announced that the club would not be entering into contract negotiations with him and that he would be leaving the club at the expiration of his contract on 30th June 2009. He had been the longest-serving Leeds player for several seasons and the last player on the club's books to have suffered relegation from the EPL in 2004. Richardson joined Charlton Athletic on a free transfer on a two year contract on 9th July 2009. He soon established himself as a permanent fixture at right back in the Charlton first eleven. He scored one goal in thirty-eight League appearances, of which one was from the bench and aso played in two play-off semi-finals, which saw Charlton eliminated by Swindon Town on penalties. He was selected in the PFA Division One team of the Year. On 6th July 2010 Southampton signed him for £450,000 on a three year contract. In a pre-season training camp on 17th July in Switzerland he sustained a dislocated shoulder which was likely to keep him out for three months.